JUNE 2, 1997

Eurocrats can seriously damage your health

THE European Health Ministers will meet this week in Brussels and Europe's Social Affairs Commissioner Irishman Padraig Flynn has confirmed that he is going to raise the issue of a pan-European tobacco advertising ban. The ban has been blocked for the last five years but the change of government in Britain is likely to see the opposition to a ban weakened and European legislation is the likely outcome if campaigners can get the necessary vote through the Council of Health Ministers.

Flynn, a fervent anti-tobacco campaigner, revealed his plans in a communiqu? marking "World No Tobacco Day" on Saturday and has even proposed the cancellation of European Union subsidies for tobacco farmers. This suggestion was rejected in December by Farm Commissioner Franz Fischler from Austria because it could result in 250,000 job losses around Europe.